#Denis Hurley Centre - 5F - CBD, Durban | Under Construction

[dysan1]

This seems to be a fantastic modern development between two highly important and historic religious buildings in central Durban.

We want to tell you about the exciting new centre which is been built alongside Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban, South Africa. It will replace the existing parish centre, a 105-year old building which is run down and dilapidated. We explored the possibility of restoring this building but it proved to be considerably more expensive than erecting a purpose-built facility on the same site.

The Denis Hurley Centre will provide an enabling environment for CARE, EDUCATION and COMMUNITY BUILDING in one of the most diverse and challenging neighbourhoods of downtown Durban, close to the busiest road and rail transport hub in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The precinct surrounding the Cathedral and the proposed Denis Hurley Centre is rich in religious, cultural and historic sites, including the Juma Musjid (Great Mosque) Gandhi library and Gandhi memorial as well as the Victoria Street Market making it an attractive destination for foreign and local tourists.

The Denis Hurley Centre will be a legacy project honouring Archbishop Denis Hurley OMI who was bishop and archbishop of this city from 1947 to 1992. He played a significant role in opposing apartheid and promoting the vision of just a society.

In serving the poorest and most marginalised citizens of Durban (the eThekwini Municipality) the Denis Hurley Centre will live out Archbishop Hurley's dream that the Church would be a "community serving humanity"

Location of the development



www.denishurleycentre.co.za

[dysan1]

Here are the renders and description of the development taken from the the architect Ruben Reddy's website. He was approached to work on the design in 2009. They applied for Heritage approval to demolish the existing 100 year old building in 2010.

[ToxicBunny]

Looks awesome...

[Lydon]

Not bad...really sad they want to demolish the existing building though.

[dysan1]

It is in a terrible state and will cost them many millions more to bring it up to par and even the layout won't meet the centres needs. They really wanted to keep it but could not under reasonable funding due to its state

[romanSA]

I am also sad the old building has to be demolished but understand the reasons. However, thankfully the new proposed building looks great. It will really uplift that historic part of town. Hope it finally goes ahead.

[hsark]

go for it i saw

[Durbsboi]

I like it, visit that area of town often and it needs some revitalisation.

[dysan1]

plans are there to also do up the Vic Market...

[Durbsboi]

I heard about the KFC coming in nothing about a revamp though.

[romanSA]

R7.5m raised for new Catholic church centre
February 13 2012 at 10:11am
By Anelisa Kubheka


This is how the Denis Hurley Centre will look from Denis Hurley Street once it has been completed.

Fundraisers and donors have helped collect R7.5 million towards the building of the Denis Hurley Centre near the Catholic Church’s Emmanuel Cathedral, in the Durban CBD.

The centre, which will include a clinic for the poor and refugees, will cost R29m to build.

Speaking on Sunday, after flowers were laid on Archbishop Denis Hurley’s tomb, marking the eighth anniversary of his death, project co- ordinator Paddy Kearney said all donations made were recorded and acknowledged in a book kept at St Joseph’s Chapel at the cathedral.

“Two dioceses from Australia donated R400 000 towards the Denis Hurley foundation,” he said.

He said staff and students of KwaZulu-Natal University’s Mandela School of Medicine would help at the clinic.

Architectural plans had been handed over and approved by Amafa, and eThekwini municipality was halfway through approving the plan, Kearney said.

“We have also met the municipality and discussed ways of improving the surrounding neighbourhood.”

He said R500 000 of the R7.5m had been raised by the Emmanuel parish itself.

“We have proposals with potential funders and are still ... approaching other funders,” Kearney said.

He said the new centre would be built on the site of the exisiting centre, next door to the cathedral. It had recently been made part of the National Liberation Heritage Route.

“We are hoping this will create more opportunity for us to get more funding,” he said.


http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/...ntre-1.1232733

[dysan1]

great to hear they are stepping ever closer to making this happen

[Trevor13698]

Apparently ruben reddy got the nod to do the job. Any other pics available?

[dysan1]

Well the designs are done... Its now up to getting the funding

[Durbsboi]

Looks good, cant wait to see it begin.

[dysan1]

will really help if the city is planning to integrate this will a strong focus on the area becoming a cultural precinct

[romanSA]

Looks like fundraising is in full swing for this project...

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Do race for Hurley centre, runners told
March 22 2012 at 02:22pm
By Laea Medley

Durban’s archbishop, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, has invited this year’s Comrades Marathon runners to make it a sponsored run for the new Denis Hurley Centre.

The centre, recently built to replace the existing parish centre next to the Emmanuel Cathedral in the CBD, is a legacy project honouring Archbishop Denis Hurley, who was the city’s archbishop from 1947 to 1992.

“Hurley played a significant role in opposing apartheid and promoting the vision of a just society,” said project organiser, Mark Wardell. The idea is for Comrades runners to appeal to their families and members of their own parishes to sponsor them for the June 3 marathon.

“The idea came from Thomas Daniels of the Sacred Heart Parish in Woodlands, who will be running his 17th Comrades this year and has offered to do it for the centre,” said Wardell. “Runners from other parts of South Africa as well as from other countries are also welcome to take part.”

Before the marathon, Napier will hold a special Mass at the Emmanuel Cathedral for runners, their families, friends and sponsors.

“In serving the poorest and most marginalised citizens of Durban, the Denis Hurley Centre will live out Archbishop Hurley’s dream that the church would be a ‘community serving humanity’,” Wardell said.

l To get official sponsorship forms, e-mail Wardell at markvwardell@gmail.com

http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/...told-1.1261719

[romanSA]

105-year-old parish to be demolished
August 17 2012 at 08:45am
By Bernadette Wolhuter

Durban - Parish centre, will soon be demolished to make way for the new Denis Hurley Centre.

St Augustine’s Primary School, which is now situated in Greyville, was based in the parish centre from 1906 to 1956 and Thursday’s mass was attended by a number of former pupils.

The singing was led by the St Augustine’s School choir.

Father Albert Danker and Father Joe Money, both former pupils, took part in the mass.

Afterwards, the former pupils and celebrants gathered in the soon-to-be-demolished building, to reminisce and enjoy a display of memorabilia as arranged by St Augustine’s School old boy Ben Pottier.

The 105-year-old parish centre is run-down and dilapidated and, after exploring the costs involved in restoring it, it was decided that erecting a new facility on the same site would prove more economical.

The centre will be built in honour of Archbishop Denis Hurley, who served as bishop and archbishop of Durban from 1947 to 1992, and whom many of the former pupils at the school remember fondly. - The Mercury


http://www.thepost.co.za/105-year-ol...shed-1.1364624

[dysan1]

great to hear its about to come to life

[Durbsboi]

Will be interesting to see this one go up. Should cause an interference to traffic in the area. I just hope it doesnt get vandilised.